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SANIBEL HISTORICAL MUSEUM AND VILLAGE
The Sanibel Historical Museum and Village will present its final Twilight Talk program of the season, “Storm Stories from Sanibel: Hurricane Ian,” on April 16 at BIG ARTS on Sanibel with filmmaker Ken Sneeden.
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Ken Sneeden
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The Sanibel Historical Museum and Village is set for its season’s final Twilight Talk program.
“Storm Stories from Sanibel: Hurricane Ian” will take place on April 16 at 7 p.m. at BIG ARTS on Sanibel, with the doors opening at 6 p.m. Hosted in partnership with BIG ARTS as part of its Community Film Nights, the event will feature the film screening, followed by a live Q&A session.
“The history of our island has always been shaped by hurricanes — and Ian adds a major chapter to that history,” village Education Committee Chair Ginny Darby said. “Visitors often ask about hurricanes, so the topic seemed to be a natural one to fulfill the mission of the historical museum and village, which is to preserve and share Sanibel’s history.”
Produced by documentarian and award-winning journalist Ken Sneeden, “Storm Stories from Sanibel” is the second installment in his series about how hurricanes have shaped the history of the islands.
“When Ian hit, filmmaker Ken Sneeden had already completed pre-production on a documentary about the history of hurricanes on Sanibel — six major storms from 1910 to 2004,” she said. “At that time, it was clear that the history of Hurricane Ian, a 500-year storm, needed to be a separate work.”
“Storm Stories from Sanibel” focuses on the destruction that followed Ian, which hit Florida in September 2022. Through personal stories and community footage, the film captures the devastation — and the remarkable resilience and community healing that followed the hurricane.
“Uplifting and inspirational, the documentary highlights the best and worst of nature — the worst of Mother Nature and the very best of human nature,” Darby said. “Rather than focusing on nature’s wrath, this documentary centers on the generosity of human nature and the extraordinary community spirit that arose from the destruction of the island. The film is truly inspirational.”
The film includes over two dozen interviews. Stories are shared by people who live and work on Sanibel and who come from all walks of life, from landscapers to chief executive officers.
“Islanders’ ‘storm stories’ are compelling. Audience members will be moved by the courage, the generosity, the selflessness and the incredible work to restore our island,” she said. “The last section of the documentary is titled, ‘Silver Linings.’ Many people, by nature, are optimistic and hopeful, and these storm stories prove that.”
“Storm Stories from Sanibel” is about an hour long in length.
Afterward, there will be a Q&A with Sneeden.
“He will lead a short talkback on his work to create this remarkable compendium of islanders’ stories,” Darby said.
A former TV station executive, Sneeden founded his Fort Myers-based multimedia company in 1991, which produces high-impact videos and multimedia presentations for national clients. In 2016, he brought his skills to the islands. His research ethic, along with his passion for local history, has resulted in numerous documentaries created for the village and the Captiva Island Historical Society.
A cash bar and popcorn will be available.
Tickets are $25 per person.
The community is encouraged to reserve a seat for the show.
“If you love the place where you live, you should learn the history,” she said. “Hurricane Ian has played a defining role in our recent history as we all continue to rebuild and reshape the community.”
For tickets or more information, visit https://sanibelmuseum.org/twilight-talks/.
To watch the trailer for the film, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJwuI6Fi31s.
BIG ARTS is at 900 Dunlop Road, Sanibel.
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IF YOU GO
What
“Storm Stories from Sanibel: Hurricane Ian”
Who
Sanibel Historical Museum and Village
When
April 16 at 7 p.m.
Where
BIG ARTS, 900 Dunlop Road, Sanibel
Details
Tickets are $25